Cementos Fortaleza expects demand to increase in Mexico

Mexican cement company Cementos Fortaleza, the cement division of Elementia, is expecting demand to increase in Mexico over the next few years. Per capita cement consumption in the country currently stands at 320 kg. Cementos Fortaleza’s General Director, Antonio Taracena, said at a recent press conference that there is much to be done in the country, including infrastructure and housing construction.

Elementia’s US$300 million cement plant in central Mexico is expected to be producing at its full capacity of 1 million t by the end of the year. The company has recently announced a joint venture with Lafarge, which is awaiting approval. Lafarge has two plants in the country; together with Cementos Fortaleza’s single plant the companies will have a combined capacity of 2 million t.

Mr Taracena added that a price increase is unlikely as new capacity comes online: "Over the past five years the price of cement has been very stable because there are always more plants," he said.